148 BRITISH MARINE ALGZ. 
structure in the spore-bearing organs of these algz to that of the groups 
with which they were originally associated, and their agreement in 
general structure with each other, they are now included in an Order 
which was named by Professor Agardh in honour of Baron von Wrangel, 
a Swedish naturalist. Fig. 136 represents a branch of the beautiful 
species, Wrangelia multifida. It is usually found on the shaded sides of 
deep rock-pools near low-water mark. It is rare in Scotland, but more or 
less abundant during the summer months on the west coast of Ireland, 
and is generally taken in fine condition from June to the end of August, 
near Plymouth and elsewhere on the coast of Devon. The plant is from 
6in. to 10in. high, but I have taken specimens at Bovisand Bay, below the 
Plymouth Breakwater, which were over 2ft. in circumference. The fronds 
are tufted and densely branched, the stems and branches are composed of 
Fic. 186. (a) Branch of Wrangelia multifida. (b) Portion of stem and 
branchlet magnified. 
single jointed tubes, and each articulation bears, just below the joint, a 
whorled tuft of multifid, incurved, branched ramuli. The joints of 
the stems and branches are many times longer than broad, and they are 
all marked in the centre with a broad siphon filled with crimson endo- 
chrome, The spores are contained in favelle, which are inclosed in what 
is termed an ‘‘involucre,’? and these are produced on stalks which 
arise from amidst the whorls of little ramuli; and it is curious that 
specimens which produce this form of fruit, present a stunted, scrubby 
appearance, as though they were old, or out of condition ; whereas 
barren plants, or those in tetrasporic fruit, are much larger, the branches 
are clothed luxuriantly with crowded secondary branches and branchlets, 
well supplied with bushy tufts of ramuli,and the colour is a brilliant rose- 
